New Delhi, Delhi, December 6, 2010 /India PRwire/ - Even as the
five day 5th International Nitrogen Conference entered the fourth day
here, over 100 scientists from 37 countries and another 400 from India
brain-stormed on burning issues related to nitrogen management and
finding a mid-way between ensuring food security and environmental
fall-outs of large scale nitrogen usage, especially in agriculture.

The Conference jointly organized by the Indian Nitrogen Group and
International Nitrogen Initiative under the chief patronage of acclaimed
agriculture scientist Dr M S Swaminathan, has been discussing the
beneficial impact of nitrogen, especially in food productivity and also
its negative impact on environment, soil fertility and bio-diversity.

"The multiple positive and negative impacts of nitrogen (N) on
eco-systems and society present an unprecedented challenge for science
and management. How can we sustainably use nitrogen to produce the food,
fiber and energy for the Earth's seven billion people while
minimizing degradation of air and water quality, bio-diversity and
ecosystem services, is the critical question today," pointed out Dr
Sybil P Seitzinger of International Geosphere -Biosphere Programme,
Stockholm, Sweden, during one of the sessions.

According to Dr Fu-Suo Zhang, from College of Resources and
Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, China, "Due
to environmental and economic constraints, another doubling of food
production must be met through improved N use efficiency rather than
more N fertilizer inputs.

It may be noted that the doubling of agricultural food production
worldwide during the past 35 years can be largely attributed to use of
nitrogen fertilizers but it has had negative impact on bio-diversity,
soil fertility and ozone layer.

According to Dr N Raghuram, co-organizer of the event, and
coordinator of Indian Nitrogen Group, "In Indian agriculture,
genuine demands for expansion of fertilizer N use in some areas co-exist
with the concerns over the environmental hazards of excessive and
inefficient N-fertlizer sue in other areas. The solution lies in
efficient nitrogen-management."

Earlier on the inauguration day, Dr M S Swaminathan, chief
architect of Indian green revolution, had pointed out that the biggest
challenge in the coming years is going to be how scientific community
and policy makers respond to the twin but conflicting challenges of food
security and environmental concerns, even as Indian policies move from
patronage era to rights-based approach, through acts such as right to
food. "India can deliver on the right to food only if productivity
is improved by properly managing inputs such as nitrogen, as land is
going out of agriculture," he had added.

It may be noted that Nitrogen-based fertilizers constitute more
than 70 % of all fertilizers used in agriculture, without which, global
food security would be under serious risk. While they helped increase
food output, leakages of reactive nitrogen compounds from unused
fertilizers causes environmental, health and climate change concerns.
Nitrous oxide, which also comes from other sources such as fossil fuels,
has 300 times global warming potential as compared to carbon compounds.

In his inaugural address Prof K V Thomas, minister of state for
agriculture & consumer affairs, GOI, said that even as food security
remains the top priority of the government, it was equally committed to
addressing environmental concerns.

About the Conference: The triennial International Nitrogen
Conference is taking place for the first time in India. Earlier
conferences were held in The Netherlands, USA, China and Brazil. It is
being organized by Indian Nitrogen Group (ING-SCON) and the
International Nitrogen Initiative (INI). According to Dr Cheryl Plam,
Chairperson, International Nitrogen Initiative, a global integrated
initiative was needed to understand and address all issues related to
nitrogen management.

For more information on 5th International Nitrogen Conference,
please visit: www.n2010.org. You may also contact Dr N Raghuram, on
-9891252943

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